today i heard the leaves rustle the way they only do when it's fall.
funny how such a small change can make such a big difference.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
new york city
Friends, it's been about 3 months since I embarked on a trip, and I'm thrilled that tomorrow I'll be taking a train with my love to New York City. I can't describe the excitement I feel for this nostalgic and romantic trip to a city that is still so new to me.
We are taking a train to New York.
Imagine the multitudes who have said those same words, brimming with anticipation and joy at the prospect of seeing the famous Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building, etc. Thousands who packed huge trunks or simply caught hold of a railing on a whistling train headed east.
And oh, the food.The first time I was in New York I was still a new vegan and was worried I wouldn't find anything to eat.
I'm going to let that sink in for a sec.
I was worried I couldn't find vegan food. In New York.
Yeah. Newbie vegan. I can't even count the number of vegan restaurants that have been recommended. And then there's bakeries, diners, etc. We happen to be staying with a vegan power-couple whose life work is food. So, I know we'll be taken care of.
Adam and I really love traveling by train together. We enjoy the time to relax, without the hassle of 3 oz liquid restrictions and body scanners, without the stress of hurtling ourselves in metal shell at a mile a minute on hazardous highways for hours on end. We bring movies, snacks, reading, knitting, games, and pillows, and just let the trip include a leisurely 8 hour start on the train.
While I finish packing, I'm going to listen to Joni Mitchell's blue album. I discovered that her song, My Old Man, is a great picture of my old man, my love, my travel companion.
Can't wait to embark on the next adventure with him.
We are taking a train to New York.
Imagine the multitudes who have said those same words, brimming with anticipation and joy at the prospect of seeing the famous Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building, etc. Thousands who packed huge trunks or simply caught hold of a railing on a whistling train headed east.
And oh, the food.The first time I was in New York I was still a new vegan and was worried I wouldn't find anything to eat.
I'm going to let that sink in for a sec.
I was worried I couldn't find vegan food. In New York.
Yeah. Newbie vegan. I can't even count the number of vegan restaurants that have been recommended. And then there's bakeries, diners, etc. We happen to be staying with a vegan power-couple whose life work is food. So, I know we'll be taken care of.
Adam and I really love traveling by train together. We enjoy the time to relax, without the hassle of 3 oz liquid restrictions and body scanners, without the stress of hurtling ourselves in metal shell at a mile a minute on hazardous highways for hours on end. We bring movies, snacks, reading, knitting, games, and pillows, and just let the trip include a leisurely 8 hour start on the train.
While I finish packing, I'm going to listen to Joni Mitchell's blue album. I discovered that her song, My Old Man, is a great picture of my old man, my love, my travel companion.
Can't wait to embark on the next adventure with him.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
equinox
Today is the first day of Autumn. Somehow the day the seasons change seems to slip by me every time. I always plan on doing something symbolic at the moment of the equinox or spending my day intentionally, but then life happens and it's 1:00 PM and the equinox was 3 hours ago.
Nevertheless, I've made today worthy of the first day of fall. I woke up and had a nice little breakfast with Adam and then started cooking right away. I made tourlou (a middle eastern style ratatouille), baba ganoush and acorn squash lasagna with fresh sage and tofu ricotta. While I cooked, I cleaned, and my regular weekend chores are off to a good start.
I'm nursing a headache today, unsure of its origin. Either it is a small hangover from the cocktails I had last night at a coworker's birthday celebration, or it is a caffeine headache. Whatever it is, I'm using mint tea and ibuprofen to stave it off. Later today I'll skype with my sister and hopefully get a bunch of knitting done. Then around dinner time we're taking K and N for the night, the first time babysitting all night at our house. I'm looking forward to it, but I know it will probably be quite an ordeal. As long as my headache goes away, I'll be ready for anything.
So here's to the turning of the seasons, the start of a new stage of slowing down, turning inward, and being present, if only for a few moments every day.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Moro de guandules (Rice with pigeon peas)
I am getting the hang of Dominican food, let me tell you. After 7(?) trips to the Dominican Republic in two years, I've tried a lot of dishes, and I think I know where they're going with their cuisine. Unlike "typical" Mexican food, Dominican food has very subtle and simple flavors. Nothing too hot or spicy, but still a lot of flavor. Very comfortable, and also very plant-based. At least, the food I eat seems to be mostly the staples, the side dishes that are easily made vegan.
A "moro" is a dish made with beans and rice where they have been cooked together. Typical "beans and rice" means, generally, that the white rice has been cooked separately from the soupy beans, and you pour the beans and their sauce over the white rice to eat. Still working on that recipe. A moro, though, is quite simple and I happen to like the one with guandules, although they make it with almost any kind of bean.
Anyway, here is my recipe for Moro de Guandules:
First, the sofrito. I've heard everyone has their own recipe for this, so I've made up my own, and you can make up yours, too, based on what you've got on hand. You want to have these basic ingredients, and the amounts can vary, and you could add other things too, like hot peppers, parsley, tomatoes, etc. I kept a jar in the freezer for at least 3 months and it was still great.
SOFRITO:
1 red or green bell pepper (or half of each)
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 medium to large onion
1 bunch cilantro
2 tbsp lemon or lime juice
2 cups brown short grain rice
1/2 large can crushed tomatoes (optional)
3 - 4 C water
2 packets sazon (I buy this at the hispanic grocery store, with no MSG; there are probably recipes online)
1-2 cans pigeon peas/guandules (again, use any beans you have on hand)
Starting with the garlic, pulse in food processor until minced. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until well-integrated. I don't worry about blending too long, it should be soupy.
In a stockpot, add 1/2 C-1C of the sofrito and sautee on medium heat, with some canola or olive oil. Once the sofrito becomes very aromatic, add in the rice and the sazon and stir. Let the rice sautee a bit to let out some of the nuttiness and then add the beans. Stir until well coated in the sauce, then add the water and tomatoes. I tend to add too much water, so our rice is very risotto-like, so add less water if you want the rice drier, then add more water if needed.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low and cook 40-50 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Try not to stir it at all. I like to let it sit 10-15 minutes or more with the heat off, lid on, to let the moisture really set in. If you happen to burn a little on the bottom, that's totally fine! The Dominicans call the burned rice "concon" and serve it separately for those who like it.
Serve with a simple salad and fresh fruit. Serves 6-8 (depending on appetites!)
Buen provecho!
A "moro" is a dish made with beans and rice where they have been cooked together. Typical "beans and rice" means, generally, that the white rice has been cooked separately from the soupy beans, and you pour the beans and their sauce over the white rice to eat. Still working on that recipe. A moro, though, is quite simple and I happen to like the one with guandules, although they make it with almost any kind of bean.
Anyway, here is my recipe for Moro de Guandules:
First, the sofrito. I've heard everyone has their own recipe for this, so I've made up my own, and you can make up yours, too, based on what you've got on hand. You want to have these basic ingredients, and the amounts can vary, and you could add other things too, like hot peppers, parsley, tomatoes, etc. I kept a jar in the freezer for at least 3 months and it was still great.
SOFRITO:
1 red or green bell pepper (or half of each)
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 medium to large onion
1 bunch cilantro
2 tbsp lemon or lime juice
2 cups brown short grain rice
1/2 large can crushed tomatoes (optional)
3 - 4 C water
2 packets sazon (I buy this at the hispanic grocery store, with no MSG; there are probably recipes online)
1-2 cans pigeon peas/guandules (again, use any beans you have on hand)
Starting with the garlic, pulse in food processor until minced. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until well-integrated. I don't worry about blending too long, it should be soupy.
In a stockpot, add 1/2 C-1C of the sofrito and sautee on medium heat, with some canola or olive oil. Once the sofrito becomes very aromatic, add in the rice and the sazon and stir. Let the rice sautee a bit to let out some of the nuttiness and then add the beans. Stir until well coated in the sauce, then add the water and tomatoes. I tend to add too much water, so our rice is very risotto-like, so add less water if you want the rice drier, then add more water if needed.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low and cook 40-50 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Try not to stir it at all. I like to let it sit 10-15 minutes or more with the heat off, lid on, to let the moisture really set in. If you happen to burn a little on the bottom, that's totally fine! The Dominicans call the burned rice "concon" and serve it separately for those who like it.
Serve with a simple salad and fresh fruit. Serves 6-8 (depending on appetites!)
Buen provecho!
Saturday, August 4, 2012
How we spend our days...
One of my favorite quotations was said by Annie Dillard, an American author, and it goes like this:
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
These words remind me day after day that our lives are comprised of each individual day, and how we CHOOSE to spend them determines the life that we choose.
Today has not gone exactly as I would have liked, but it is not entirely because of my choices. It's been hot. And it's hard to do anything when it is so hot. I also have been trying to finish my final for my summer class. It's not too hard but it's been difficult to hunker down.
Weekends are hard for me in general because I have a lot of expectations for what I want to get accomplished. Usually, it involves some running around, which was just not quite feasible today because of the aforementioned impediments. The final is really what's getting me down, since I feel like I should spend all of my time working on it, but when I'm not, I don't feel like I can do anything worthwhile, like reading something for fun, watching a movie or working on a house project that is enjoyable. I end up wasting time on Facebook or something else on my phone, because if I did something I wanted to do, like knit more of my sweater, I would be "distracted from writing my final." Which has happened anyway.
So, because I sometimes get down on myself when I don't do what I want on the weekends, I decided to set the table for dinner and open a bottle of wine. I'm going to relax with Adam and call it a day.
However, one important thing I can do to set myself up for success on the weekends is to list the things I want to do. And not just the "to-do" list, but the list that involves fun things, too.
Most weekends, it looks like this:
Go to the market
Process new veggies so they are ready to cook
Cook some food (for weekend and weekday meals)
Buy flowers
Pick up grocery staples at the Co-op
Eat a nice breakfast
Clean the kitchen (it makes me REALLY happy when the kitchen is clean)
Read a book or knit
Drink a glass of wine (per day)
Sleep in (till 8:30)
Go to yoga, preferably a vinyasa flow and a restorative class
Make sure the front and back yards are looking good (weeding, mowing, etc.)
Do the laundry, including fresh sheets and towels
Hang out with some friends
Bike a lot
Relax
Again, there are probably more things that I like to do, but these are the main things that make me feel either restored or prepared for the week to come. I do actually make lists like this for the weekend. I am so forgetful, I need reminders even for the things I really want to do.
It's really about intention. Knowing what we want to accomplish each day. Not just for others, but for ourselves as well. What do we need to feel like we spent our time well? What do we need to turn our days into a life? I think it's about small steps, simple goals, and starting new each day.
Cheers.
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
These words remind me day after day that our lives are comprised of each individual day, and how we CHOOSE to spend them determines the life that we choose.
Today has not gone exactly as I would have liked, but it is not entirely because of my choices. It's been hot. And it's hard to do anything when it is so hot. I also have been trying to finish my final for my summer class. It's not too hard but it's been difficult to hunker down.
Weekends are hard for me in general because I have a lot of expectations for what I want to get accomplished. Usually, it involves some running around, which was just not quite feasible today because of the aforementioned impediments. The final is really what's getting me down, since I feel like I should spend all of my time working on it, but when I'm not, I don't feel like I can do anything worthwhile, like reading something for fun, watching a movie or working on a house project that is enjoyable. I end up wasting time on Facebook or something else on my phone, because if I did something I wanted to do, like knit more of my sweater, I would be "distracted from writing my final." Which has happened anyway.
So, because I sometimes get down on myself when I don't do what I want on the weekends, I decided to set the table for dinner and open a bottle of wine. I'm going to relax with Adam and call it a day.
However, one important thing I can do to set myself up for success on the weekends is to list the things I want to do. And not just the "to-do" list, but the list that involves fun things, too.
Most weekends, it looks like this:
Go to the market
Process new veggies so they are ready to cook
Cook some food (for weekend and weekday meals)
Buy flowers
Pick up grocery staples at the Co-op
Eat a nice breakfast
Clean the kitchen (it makes me REALLY happy when the kitchen is clean)
Read a book or knit
Drink a glass of wine (per day)
Sleep in (till 8:30)
Go to yoga, preferably a vinyasa flow and a restorative class
Make sure the front and back yards are looking good (weeding, mowing, etc.)
Do the laundry, including fresh sheets and towels
Hang out with some friends
Bike a lot
Relax
Again, there are probably more things that I like to do, but these are the main things that make me feel either restored or prepared for the week to come. I do actually make lists like this for the weekend. I am so forgetful, I need reminders even for the things I really want to do.
It's really about intention. Knowing what we want to accomplish each day. Not just for others, but for ourselves as well. What do we need to feel like we spent our time well? What do we need to turn our days into a life? I think it's about small steps, simple goals, and starting new each day.
Cheers.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Sugar-free successes
A while back, I mentioned that I wanted to go sugar-free. Adam has gone about a year with only a few sugary treats (I know he ate one of our cupcakes from our commitment ceremony, and enjoyed a treat or two at my brother's vegan wedding reception). For me, it hasn't been so simple, and it kind of surprises me because I've never really considered myself to have a sweet tooth, but I never could resist a free treat in my college years, and now I have a hard time resisting a vegan treat!
A few things are easy for me:
1. I only eat vegan foods, so the number of tempting (and realistic) snacks are more limited.
2. I never had a practice of putting sugar in things, like coffee or tea, except for the occasional espresso.
3. I really love savory foods and generally prefer cold pizza for breakfast than muffins or other sweet breakfast foods.
But there are definite challenges. Habits are hard to break and I have a bad habit of buying a huge cookie out of a vending machine on afternoons when I'm bored at work and want to go home. I also happen to enjoy eating spoonfuls of vegan nutella straight from the jar.
But I'm here to say it can be done, and one of the best ways I have found to avoid eating sugar is to eat whole foods. I still eat plenty of fresh fruit, and sometimes it's a good alternative to eating sweets. Yesterday, for example, my co-worker mentioned she was craving something frozen, and we went over to the cafeteria to look for a snack. Instead of the strawberry Popsicle, which had 25g of sugar(!), I got grapes. Not quite as cold or satisfying, but they did the trick. The nice thing about that is I increased my servings of fruits and veggies for the day and I didn't get a stomach ache from too much sugar. Here's what I ate yesterday, for an idea of a sugar-free lifestyle:
Breakfast: half English muffin with margarine, Americano with unsweetened soy creamer
Snack: banana, unsweetened ice tea
Lunch: beet and potato hash, whole wheat penne pasta with unsweetened pasta sauce and tofu sausage, zevia soda
Snack: grapes
Dinner: tofu sandwich on sourdough with watercress, potato salad with green beans
Snack: fresh blueberries
Some days are better than others (I had a sweetened iced chai today) but but when I focus on how something will make me feel, rather than how badly I'm craving it, I usually make the right decision.
Now if I could only break my NCIS habit...
A few things are easy for me:
1. I only eat vegan foods, so the number of tempting (and realistic) snacks are more limited.
2. I never had a practice of putting sugar in things, like coffee or tea, except for the occasional espresso.
3. I really love savory foods and generally prefer cold pizza for breakfast than muffins or other sweet breakfast foods.
But there are definite challenges. Habits are hard to break and I have a bad habit of buying a huge cookie out of a vending machine on afternoons when I'm bored at work and want to go home. I also happen to enjoy eating spoonfuls of vegan nutella straight from the jar.
But I'm here to say it can be done, and one of the best ways I have found to avoid eating sugar is to eat whole foods. I still eat plenty of fresh fruit, and sometimes it's a good alternative to eating sweets. Yesterday, for example, my co-worker mentioned she was craving something frozen, and we went over to the cafeteria to look for a snack. Instead of the strawberry Popsicle, which had 25g of sugar(!), I got grapes. Not quite as cold or satisfying, but they did the trick. The nice thing about that is I increased my servings of fruits and veggies for the day and I didn't get a stomach ache from too much sugar. Here's what I ate yesterday, for an idea of a sugar-free lifestyle:
Breakfast: half English muffin with margarine, Americano with unsweetened soy creamer
Snack: banana, unsweetened ice tea
Lunch: beet and potato hash, whole wheat penne pasta with unsweetened pasta sauce and tofu sausage, zevia soda
Snack: grapes
Dinner: tofu sandwich on sourdough with watercress, potato salad with green beans
Snack: fresh blueberries
Some days are better than others (I had a sweetened iced chai today) but but when I focus on how something will make me feel, rather than how badly I'm craving it, I usually make the right decision.
Now if I could only break my NCIS habit...
Saturday, July 14, 2012
bastille day
Today is the French independence day and I am wondering how they celebrate...do they use fireworks like we do? Or are they more demure and refined, and just picnic on the Eiffel Tower lawn...?
We share a somewhat similar history with France and yet we are so, so, so different. I read yesterday that France is #1 in healthcare worldwide, though they are #4 in spending. Guess who is #1 in spending? The U.S. of A. But what number are we in healthcare? 37.
Screw Obamacare. And Canada. Vive la France!
This weekend is unique in that Adam is away with his family at their camp and I am home with the cats. It's funny the way that life changes when a person is away for a weekend. For example, our cats, who normally think EVERY NIGHT IS A SLEEPOVER, meaning, they get to walk all over us all night long finding the perfect new spot to sleep, they, well, they ignored me. All. Night. I think Wallcat snuck in sometime in the middle of the night to catch a few zzz's at the foot of the bed. Jilly, it appears, slept on the windowsill and on the bathmat in the bathroom. So, it's good to know they are really only here for Adam.
I made a smoothie this morning that was quite delicious, so I thought I'd share the recipe:
1-2 frozen bananas
1 C almond milk
2 generous Tbsp peanut butter
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 C water or ice (if you like it thicker)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground flaxseed (optional)
This made about 1 1/2 to 2 glasses that I drank by myself in about 2 minutes. The nice thing about this is that it is so yummy but it's not all that bad for you. Each of the items is a serving of the food, and the only sugar is from the bananas (unless your peanut butter has sugar, which is sneaky and they shouldn't do that to perfectly good peanut butter).
I am headed to yoga in a bit so I've got to run, but I wanted to stop in and say hello.
Bonjour.
We share a somewhat similar history with France and yet we are so, so, so different. I read yesterday that France is #1 in healthcare worldwide, though they are #4 in spending. Guess who is #1 in spending? The U.S. of A. But what number are we in healthcare? 37.
Screw Obamacare. And Canada. Vive la France!
This weekend is unique in that Adam is away with his family at their camp and I am home with the cats. It's funny the way that life changes when a person is away for a weekend. For example, our cats, who normally think EVERY NIGHT IS A SLEEPOVER, meaning, they get to walk all over us all night long finding the perfect new spot to sleep, they, well, they ignored me. All. Night. I think Wallcat snuck in sometime in the middle of the night to catch a few zzz's at the foot of the bed. Jilly, it appears, slept on the windowsill and on the bathmat in the bathroom. So, it's good to know they are really only here for Adam.
I made a smoothie this morning that was quite delicious, so I thought I'd share the recipe:
1-2 frozen bananas
1 C almond milk
2 generous Tbsp peanut butter
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 C water or ice (if you like it thicker)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground flaxseed (optional)
This made about 1 1/2 to 2 glasses that I drank by myself in about 2 minutes. The nice thing about this is that it is so yummy but it's not all that bad for you. Each of the items is a serving of the food, and the only sugar is from the bananas (unless your peanut butter has sugar, which is sneaky and they shouldn't do that to perfectly good peanut butter).
I am headed to yoga in a bit so I've got to run, but I wanted to stop in and say hello.
Bonjour.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Spring Mix
I made a playlist today before I headed home from the public market on my bike, and I'm really loving it. Lots of strong female singer/songwriters, a little bit of angst and a lot of whimsy, joy and playfulness, perfect for a spring mix.
"SPRING MIX"
Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
Kids - MGMT
World Spins Madly On - The Weepies
Hometown Glory - Adele
Mariachi - Ani Difranco
Malo - Bebe
Home - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Half Acre - Hem
Not Your Year - The Weepies
Keep Breathing - Ingrid Michaelson
Fuck Was I - Jenny Owens Young
Life Boat - Ani Difranco
Where Does the Good Go - Tegan and Sara
Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
Gotta Have You - The Weepies
Albacore - Ani Difranco
Bitter Heart - Zee Avi
Slow Pony Home - The Weepies
If you want the abridged version, listen to "Mariachi", "Fuck Was I", "Home" and "Sweet Disposition". :)
I have found a lot of joy from going to the public market alone on Saturday mornings. I used to give Adam a hard time about not going with me (he hates crowds) but I have truly enjoyed the solitude I find in being surrounded by hundreds of people but having my own agenda and being in my own head. I hop on my bike, listen to a couple songs or a quick podcast on my way to the market, lock up, and head to the coffee shop. My drink choices vary--today it was an americano, last time it was a soy cappuccino. The place I go actually has terrible espresso, so I'm considering going to the other shop next time. We'll see. Anyway, I sit with my coffee, reading some blogs or making my shopping list. Although I often enjoy walking around with a hot drink, like when I go to work on the bus, but at the market, I prefer to just sit and finish my drink before shopping. It's a good time to people-watch, relax and soak in the morning sunshine.
After I finish my coffee, I head to the Flour City Bread Company and pick up a loaf or two of their artisan bread. I'm loving their foccacia, which is drenched in oil and salt. You don't even need to dip it in olive oil--just drizzle with some balsamic and eat freshly sliced.
From the bread shop, I head to the crowds and pick up a few veggies. Today I found some great looking Asian eggplants, some dandelion greens (I know, I can pick them out of my backyard, but I have to support the little old lady selling them--more power to her). I also grabbed a 1/2 lb of decaf Guatemalan coffee, 2 portobello mushrooms and some avocados. I have a lot of produce left over from last week, so today was just a spiritual practice in marketing.
The last time I was in the Dominican Republic, my coworker's husband was driving me to the airport and asked me what I like to do for fun at home. The first thing that popped into my mind was going to the market, next was cooking. Especially when I am traveling over the weekend, I miss the routine of preparing good, wholesome and homemade food for myself and for Adam. I crave it. Lately I've been realizing I spend a ridiculous amount of money on food, but I justify it by the fact that I don't have a motor vehicle and therefore can afford to treat myself to delicious foods. And the fact that instead of driving, I bike, it makes sense that I spend my money on "fuel". Ha!
Finally, today is somewhat bittersweet, as I think about the blessings I have and some of the hardships I know some are enduring, but I take comfort knowing that the love we have for each other sustains us even when we are not in constant contact. I feel the love of my friends when they are thousands of miles away, and hope they feel my love as well.
"So it goes, so no one knows you like they used to do. Have a drink, the sky is sinking toward a deeper blue, and you're still alright. Step out in the twilight."
Living in Twilight - The Weepies
"SPRING MIX"
Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
Kids - MGMT
World Spins Madly On - The Weepies
Hometown Glory - Adele
Mariachi - Ani Difranco
Malo - Bebe
Home - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Half Acre - Hem
Not Your Year - The Weepies
Keep Breathing - Ingrid Michaelson
Fuck Was I - Jenny Owens Young
Life Boat - Ani Difranco
Where Does the Good Go - Tegan and Sara
Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
Gotta Have You - The Weepies
Albacore - Ani Difranco
Bitter Heart - Zee Avi
Slow Pony Home - The Weepies
If you want the abridged version, listen to "Mariachi", "Fuck Was I", "Home" and "Sweet Disposition". :)
I have found a lot of joy from going to the public market alone on Saturday mornings. I used to give Adam a hard time about not going with me (he hates crowds) but I have truly enjoyed the solitude I find in being surrounded by hundreds of people but having my own agenda and being in my own head. I hop on my bike, listen to a couple songs or a quick podcast on my way to the market, lock up, and head to the coffee shop. My drink choices vary--today it was an americano, last time it was a soy cappuccino. The place I go actually has terrible espresso, so I'm considering going to the other shop next time. We'll see. Anyway, I sit with my coffee, reading some blogs or making my shopping list. Although I often enjoy walking around with a hot drink, like when I go to work on the bus, but at the market, I prefer to just sit and finish my drink before shopping. It's a good time to people-watch, relax and soak in the morning sunshine.
After I finish my coffee, I head to the Flour City Bread Company and pick up a loaf or two of their artisan bread. I'm loving their foccacia, which is drenched in oil and salt. You don't even need to dip it in olive oil--just drizzle with some balsamic and eat freshly sliced.
From the bread shop, I head to the crowds and pick up a few veggies. Today I found some great looking Asian eggplants, some dandelion greens (I know, I can pick them out of my backyard, but I have to support the little old lady selling them--more power to her). I also grabbed a 1/2 lb of decaf Guatemalan coffee, 2 portobello mushrooms and some avocados. I have a lot of produce left over from last week, so today was just a spiritual practice in marketing.
The last time I was in the Dominican Republic, my coworker's husband was driving me to the airport and asked me what I like to do for fun at home. The first thing that popped into my mind was going to the market, next was cooking. Especially when I am traveling over the weekend, I miss the routine of preparing good, wholesome and homemade food for myself and for Adam. I crave it. Lately I've been realizing I spend a ridiculous amount of money on food, but I justify it by the fact that I don't have a motor vehicle and therefore can afford to treat myself to delicious foods. And the fact that instead of driving, I bike, it makes sense that I spend my money on "fuel". Ha!
Finally, today is somewhat bittersweet, as I think about the blessings I have and some of the hardships I know some are enduring, but I take comfort knowing that the love we have for each other sustains us even when we are not in constant contact. I feel the love of my friends when they are thousands of miles away, and hope they feel my love as well.
"So it goes, so no one knows you like they used to do. Have a drink, the sky is sinking toward a deeper blue, and you're still alright. Step out in the twilight."
Living in Twilight - The Weepies
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Travel tips
I'm on a plane to Houston right now and I just finished a delicious (and healthy!) snack. I'll be in Texas for the rest of the week and, although I can charge my meals to my grant, sometimes I prefer to bring what I can from home so that a) I'm never starving with no vegan food options in sight and b) I'm not tempted to go overboard on the "healthy" things I can find at airports (like a bottle of pomegranate juice with 62 grams of sugar--sorry, not healthy).
Inspired by Heidi Swanson's gourmet plane food suggestions, I decided to bring along some snacks that can pass through security and that I actually want to eat. I didn't really do a lot of planning for this, but here's what I came up with:
Two days ago, I stopped by our natural food co-op and resolved to avoid the very sugary Lara, Luna and Clif bars. I picked up some raw walnuts and Turkish figs instead. I mixed together enough for a handful (1/4 cup) of walnuts per day plus about 2 figs per day. Walnuts are high in omega-3's and I think figs have a good amount of calcium (not certain--we're in airplane mode, people!).
At home, the night before my trip, I came across an enormous Japanese sweet potato that Adam certainly would not eat, so I popped it into a 350 degree (F) oven for literally 2 hours while I packed. You want that sucker to be nice and soft. Once it cooled, I cut it in half and wrapped each piece in parchment paper and put them in a bag. I brought a spoon from home for my almond yogurt in the morning, so I kept it with me and it worked beautifully to eat the sweet potato like a parfait.
I always hear air travel experts say not to eat much while you travel and I try my best to follow that advice. For an 8:00 AM flight, I just had a small yogurt on the way to the airport, my handful of walnuts and one fig on my first flight and about a cup of the sweet potato on my second flight. I haven't had anything to drink but water. I will gain an hour in Houston so when I get in at 12:20 it will actually be 1:20 to my tummy and that's late for lunch. My co-worker, who is traveling with me, and I might stop in the airport for lunch before we head to the bus stop (the plan is to take the city bus but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle). When we check in at the hotel it might be as late as 3:00 and we may as well just get another snack before dinner. Another important tip for traveling is to try keep your meals regular. If you're flying to a different time zone, it's helpful to eat breakfast at the time you would eat it where you're traveling TO, that way your body is gearing up for a new day, even if you're headed to bed the night before your flight.
Thankfully, my travel for work just sends me south and in a generally similar time zone. But it's still important to be consistent with meals.
I will try to post some packing tips soon, as well as go over some of the key items I like to have with me while traveling.
Buen viaje!
Inspired by Heidi Swanson's gourmet plane food suggestions, I decided to bring along some snacks that can pass through security and that I actually want to eat. I didn't really do a lot of planning for this, but here's what I came up with:
Two days ago, I stopped by our natural food co-op and resolved to avoid the very sugary Lara, Luna and Clif bars. I picked up some raw walnuts and Turkish figs instead. I mixed together enough for a handful (1/4 cup) of walnuts per day plus about 2 figs per day. Walnuts are high in omega-3's and I think figs have a good amount of calcium (not certain--we're in airplane mode, people!).
At home, the night before my trip, I came across an enormous Japanese sweet potato that Adam certainly would not eat, so I popped it into a 350 degree (F) oven for literally 2 hours while I packed. You want that sucker to be nice and soft. Once it cooled, I cut it in half and wrapped each piece in parchment paper and put them in a bag. I brought a spoon from home for my almond yogurt in the morning, so I kept it with me and it worked beautifully to eat the sweet potato like a parfait.
I always hear air travel experts say not to eat much while you travel and I try my best to follow that advice. For an 8:00 AM flight, I just had a small yogurt on the way to the airport, my handful of walnuts and one fig on my first flight and about a cup of the sweet potato on my second flight. I haven't had anything to drink but water. I will gain an hour in Houston so when I get in at 12:20 it will actually be 1:20 to my tummy and that's late for lunch. My co-worker, who is traveling with me, and I might stop in the airport for lunch before we head to the bus stop (the plan is to take the city bus but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle). When we check in at the hotel it might be as late as 3:00 and we may as well just get another snack before dinner. Another important tip for traveling is to try keep your meals regular. If you're flying to a different time zone, it's helpful to eat breakfast at the time you would eat it where you're traveling TO, that way your body is gearing up for a new day, even if you're headed to bed the night before your flight.
Thankfully, my travel for work just sends me south and in a generally similar time zone. But it's still important to be consistent with meals.
I will try to post some packing tips soon, as well as go over some of the key items I like to have with me while traveling.
Buen viaje!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Lake Shore Limited
I am fortunate to live close enough to visit my hometown by train, though far enough for it to require preparation and planning. I take the overnight train from Rochester, NY, to mid-Michigan, where my two beautiful nephews live (and most of the rest of my family, of course). Trains are my style. As someone who grew up with little access to a motor vehicle and now as an adult who does not own one, I find the train more convenient than barreling across a busy interstate at 80 miles per hour, constantly focused on the road and in many cases concerned about the lake effect. On a train, I can knit, read, sleep, and think without worrying if my life is in danger. And I would say that's pretty convenient.
The Lake Shore Limited departs Rochester at 11:00 PM and arrives in Toledo, OH in the morning, where I board a bus to my hometown university train station. The best part of my ride is when, in late spring, the sun rises over Lake Erie just as we near a portion of the track that nearly touches the shore. There is nothing like waking up on the train and seeing the golden light at sunrise filtered through antique windows, sparkling across the water and turning even the most high strung among us into daydreamers.
I will always be a lover of bodies of water. Growing up among four of the Great Lakes and settling as a young adult alongside the fifth, I can't imagine what it would be like to live far from water. And, you know, I hear so many people say that, I know it must be in our humanity. Think of the great cities of the world--are any of them landlocked? The ones I think of--Paris, London, Portland, San Francisco, New York City, Toronto, Sydney, Boston...I could go on and on--all are settled along the water's edge. Even our little town, though close to Lake Ontario, straddles the Genesee river, connecting to the Erie Canal. We all long to see the water, to know that it is there and that it is waiting for us to wake up and smile as our train "choo-choos" us towards the ones we love.
The Lake Shore Limited departs Rochester at 11:00 PM and arrives in Toledo, OH in the morning, where I board a bus to my hometown university train station. The best part of my ride is when, in late spring, the sun rises over Lake Erie just as we near a portion of the track that nearly touches the shore. There is nothing like waking up on the train and seeing the golden light at sunrise filtered through antique windows, sparkling across the water and turning even the most high strung among us into daydreamers.
I will always be a lover of bodies of water. Growing up among four of the Great Lakes and settling as a young adult alongside the fifth, I can't imagine what it would be like to live far from water. And, you know, I hear so many people say that, I know it must be in our humanity. Think of the great cities of the world--are any of them landlocked? The ones I think of--Paris, London, Portland, San Francisco, New York City, Toronto, Sydney, Boston...I could go on and on--all are settled along the water's edge. Even our little town, though close to Lake Ontario, straddles the Genesee river, connecting to the Erie Canal. We all long to see the water, to know that it is there and that it is waiting for us to wake up and smile as our train "choo-choos" us towards the ones we love.
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